Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 228

Chapter 228: The Archduke, The Patient, and the Hovering Panther

There are doctors, there are master mages, and then there is Archduke Cassian.

To say Cassian’s medical ward was state-of-the-art was a severe understatement. Located in the east wing of the manor, the infirmary looked less like a clinic and more like an aggressively sterilized palace. The floors were carved from imported white marble that physically repelled dirt, the air was filtered through centuries-old elemental wind-runes, and every single instrument on the silver trays cost more than a small provincial village.

Juni sat awkwardly on the edge of a levitating, velvet-cushioned examination table. She was wearing a soft linen gown, her golden hair tied back, and her magnificent silver-tipped wings pulled tight against her back. She looked terrified, though not of the medical equipment.

She was terrified of the bill.

"Cassian," Juni whispered, her golden eyes darting to a massive, glowing ruby suspended in a gold frame next to her head. "Is that an Imperial Blood-Crystal? I heard they only use those in the Capital to resurrect dying royalty. Why is it pointing at me?"

"It is measuring your resting pulse," Cassian replied smoothly, not even looking up from his silver clipboard. He was dressed in a pristine white coat over his tailored vest, pushing his round glasses up his nose. "And yes, it is an Imperial Blood-Crystal. I purchased the entire mine last decade because standard ones are unhygienic and aesthetically displeasing."

Juni swallowed hard. "I cannot afford this check-up."

"Do not insult my treasury," Cassian sighed, picking up a glowing blue wand. "You are currently under the protection of the Warlord pack. Ergo, your structural integrity is my responsibility. Open your mouth, please."

"It really isn’t necessary," Juni tried to argue, shifting uncomfortably. "My knee feels fine. My wings don’t ache anymore. I just want to know if I’m cleared to fly."

"Patient self-assessment is notoriously flawed," a small, highly serious voice announced from the corner.

Juni looked over to see Jasper. The little snake-beast cub was wearing a miniature version of Cassian’s white coat, holding his own tiny leather notebook. He pushed his small round glasses up his nose in the exact same motion as his older brother.

"Statistically," Jasper lectured, flipping a page, "avian beast-kins hide physical weakness to avoid appearing vulnerable to predators. You require a full archducal diagnostic to rule out internal mana-fractures."

Cassian gave Jasper a brief, proud nod. "Excellent application of physiological data, Jasper. Though your posture is slacking by two degrees. Straighten your spine."

Jasper immediately snapped up to perfect military attention.

Juni let out a defeated sigh and opened her mouth. Cassian gently waved the glowing blue wand over her face, checking her magical pathways.

The entire process would have been incredibly peaceful, if not for the massive, terrifying shadow currently looming in the darkest corner of the infirmary.

Lucien had absolutely refused to wait in the hallway. The Panther Assassin was leaning against the sterile white wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his violet eyes tracking Cassian’s every single movement with lethal, unblinking intensity.

Cassian picked up a small, blunt silver reflex hammer.

"Do not strike her with that blunt-force weapon," Lucien’s low, dangerous voice instantly echoed from the shadows.

Cassian paused, slowly turning his head to glare at the assassin. "Lucien, it is a reflex hammer. It weighs three ounces. I am going to tap her patella to ensure her nerve endings have properly reattached after the poacher attack."

"You will bruise her," Lucien warned, his shadow-magic actually starting to pool around his boots.

"I am an Archduke and a master healer!" Cassian hissed, his serpentine slitted eyes narrowing in deep annoyance. "I have reattached severed limbs on active battlefields! I am not going to bruise a woman’s knee with a rubber-tipped wand!"

"Statistically, patient stress levels increase when surrounded by heavily armed assassins," Jasper chimed in helpfully from his stool, writing furiously in his notebook. "Lucien’s hovering is elevating Juni’s heart rate. The Blood-Crystal is glowing twenty percent brighter."

Lucien immediately stiffened, his eyes darting to Juni’s face. "Am I causing you distress?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Juni let out a bright, exasperated laugh, completely shattering the tense, clinical atmosphere. She looked at the terrifying Lord of Shadows, who looked ready to throw himself out a window if he was actually stressing her out.

"You aren’t stressing me out, Lucien," Juni smiled warmly, her golden eyes completely fond. "The floating million-gold-piece ruby is stressing me out. And Cassian is right. He needs to check my knee."

Lucien didn’t look convinced, but he gave a tight nod and forcibly commanded his shadows to recede. He stayed exactly where he was, though, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Cassian’s hands.

Cassian let out a long-suffering sigh, muttering something under his breath about the absolute lack of respect for medical professionals in this household. He gently tapped Juni’s knee. Her leg kicked forward perfectly.

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